axes, and after another seven leagues we found another hut, where
we rested ourselves. We made a fire and ate all the food we had,
because the savages told us that we were still about four leagues
distant from the castle. The sun was near setting as still another of
the savages went on to the castle to tell them we were coming. We
would have gone with him, but because we felt so very hungry the
savages would not take us along with them. The course northwest.

December 30. Without anything to eat we went to the Sinnekens'
castle, and after marching awhile the savages showed me the branch
of the river that passes by Fort Orange and past the land of the
Maquas. A woman came to meet us, bringing us baked pumpkins
to eat. This road was mostly full of birches and beautiful flat land
for sowing. Before we reached the castle we saw three graves, just
like our graves in length and height; usually their graves are round.
These graves were surrounded with palisades that they had split
from trees, and they were closed up so nicely that it was a wonder
to see. They were painted with red and white and black paint; but
the chief's grave had an entrance, and at the top of that was a big
wooden bird, and all around were painted dogs, and deer, and snakes,
and other beasts. After four or five leagues' marching the savages
still prayed us to fire our guns, and so we did, but loaded them again
directly and went on to the castle. And we saw to the northwest of
us, a large river, and on the other side thereof tremendously high
land that seemed to lie in the clouds. Upon inquiring closely into this,
the savages told me that in this river the Frenchmen came to trade.
And then we marched confidently to the castle, where the savages
divided into two rows, and so let us pass through them by the gate,
which was--the one we went through--3 1/2 feet wide, and at the top
were standing three big wooden images, carved like men, and with